Vibrating-record phonograph.



D. M. BLISS.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD m. BLISS, or ORANGE, NEW-JERSEY.

VIBRATING-BECORD PHONOGRAPH.

- which soundis reproduced from thevibration of a sound record tablet, as contrasted to the sound reproduction in the well known commercial types of phonographwhich reproduce sound by means of a diaphragm and a sound box.

The object of my invention is to make a practical phonogra h without a sound box or a diaphragm, to simplify the construction of the various parts, to provide a sound amplifying or resonating means to coact with the vibrating record and also to make the various parts of my phonograph commercial and eflicient.

In all phonographs there are essentially two possible sources of sound reproduction. Thefirst and commonly used source of sound reproduction consists of the stylus in connection with the diaphragm, sound box and horn.' The second consists of the record tab let itself, which tends to vibrate downward as the stylus tends to vibrate upward. This second possible source of sound reproduction from the record tablet, has not been perfectcd or widely used by others, in fact many devices toquiet it have been triedprobably because the sounds reproduced by vibrations of the record have been of unsatisfactory quality, and also probably because it has been thought desirable to utiliie all of the relative movement between the stylus 'and the record tablet to vibrate the diaphragm.

, In my vibrating record honograph I have discarded the sound ox, the diaphragm and the horn, and have accentuatedthe sound reproduced by the record tablet by means ofa resonating chamber or amplifying device associated with the record tablet. I have also accentuated the vibrations in the record tablet by providing a eon'iparatively inert, rigid attachment between the stylus and the swinging arm which carries the stylus, and by mounting the record resiliently.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26, 1912. Serial No. 680,037.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which'a typical vibrating record phonograph is shown.

Fi urel is a side elevation of my phonograp Fig. 2 is top view of Fig. 1.- Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of some of the principal parts shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

1, is an ordinary phonograph base such as is used in the common disk type of phonograph or. talking machine; a turntable' shaft 2, projects upward from the base and carries a turntable 3, which differs from the common flat turntable inform and also in that it is made of wood. Turntable 3, has a flat body 4, and a high upwardlyprojecting rim 5. The material and form of the turntable 3, cause it to perform the functions of a turntable and to form the bottom and side of a large and deep, specially designed phonograph record tablet resonating chamher. On the upperedge of the rim 5,"is a ring of felt 6, to form an elastic saddle for a disk record 7, which may be preferably a record having a vertical cut record line. An extended portion 8, of turntable shaft is threaded andextends upward through a center hole 9, in record 7. Around extended portion 8, of turntable shaft 2, is placed a. felt Washer 10, a metal washer 11, anda thumb nut 12, to' hold the record securely yet elastically and resiliently down on the felt ring 6, and under the felt washer 10.

On base 1, is attached a post- 13, which is fitted with a collar 14. The post 13, acts as a center for the swiveling and radial, movement of an arm 15. Arm 15, has a metal strip portion 16, resting on collar 14. Through metal strip 16, the post 13,ext ends upward forming a loose journal or swivel for the arm 15. Metalstrip 16, has an upward extension 17, and a slot 18, which loosely embraces post 13,- and is for the purpose of maintaining an approximately horizontal position for arm 15.

The metal strip 16, is rigidly attached to one end of a wood block 19, near the opposite end of which is a hole 20,- filled with paraffin 21. Beneath this, at the lower face of the wood block 19,is a recess 22, which I is attached a cork disk 23, which carries a stylus 24, which may be of the sapphire or any approved type. Stylus 24, rests and may run on the record 7. Hole 20, parallin arm and the stylus of the common type of phonograph.

In operation, the record 7, is set on the turntable 3 and the arm 15, is placed over the record in the indicated position, with the stylus 24, resting on the record 7. The turntable 3, may be set in revolution, and as the turntable 3, and record 7, revolve, the stylus 24, running on the record 7, causes the record 7, to vibrate and reproduce sound. The reproduced sound is amplified by. the resonating chamber whichis inclosed by the turntable and the record tablet.

My vibrating'record phonograph may be used as a recording phonograph by suitable adaptations, and may be adapted to any form of record capable of producing sound vibrations.

The various novel features which I desire to secure by Letters Patent are pointed out in the claims and may be combined with old or new phonograph devices. I

I claim 1. In a phonograph, a base,a shaft projecting' without the base, a revoluble wooden turntable, bowl like in .form, mounted on the shaft, a felt ring-on the edge of the turntable whereon the outer edge of a disk record-may be rested, a centering stud in the center of the turntable, a felt'washer and thumb screw for the stud, whereby the disk record may be centrally held,-a post projecting from the base and a swinging arm, having inertia, pivoted to the post, a hole near the free end of the arm, filled with par-' attin, a recess at the lower face of the-arm, acork disk fastened therein, and a needle fastened to the cork disk, adapted to run on the record and thereby cause the record to vibrate and reproduce sound.

2. In a talking machine, the combination of a record tablet mounted to vibrate and reproduce sound, a turntable providing a resonating space therefor and a stylus adapted to trace the record line, said stylus designed to set the tablet into vibration to reproduce the sound recorded thereon.

3. In a talking machine, a turntable comprising a base and rim of resonant material and a sound record tablet supported by said table and inclosing therewith a relatively large resonating chamber designed to amplify sounds produced by the vibration of said tablet into said chamber.

4. In a talking machine,'a turntable comprising a base and a rim of resonant material and a record seat of soft material surmounting said rim, and a sound record tablet supported by said table and inclosing therewith a relatively large resonating chamber designed to amplify sounds produc'ed by the vibration of said tablet into said chamber.

5. In a talking machine,a turntable comprising a base and a rim of resonant material adapted to support a record tablet and to inclose therewith a relatively large resonating chamber designed to amplify sounds produced by the, vibration of a tablet into said chamber.

6. In a talking machine, a turntable comprising a base and rim of, resonant material and a record seat of soft material surmounting said rim and adapted to support a sound record tablet, to inclose therewith a relatively large resonating chamber designed to amplify sounds produced by the vibration of a record tablet into said chamber 7. A phonograph turntable of resonant material consisting of a base provided at its outer edge with a high rim extending up wardly from'the base and having a recordseat at the top of the rim, said base and rim forming, respectively, the bottom and side of a large and deep resonating chamber.

8. A phonograph turntable of resonant material consisting ofia base provided at its outer edge with a high rim extendingvupwardly from the base and having a record seat at the top of the rim, said base and rim forming, respectively, the bottom and side of a large and deep resonating chamber, in combination with means for pressing a rec-.v ord tablet down upon said seat.

9. In a phonograph, a shaft, a revoluble wooden turntable, bowl like in form, mounted on the shaft, a centering stud in the center of the turntable, a record retaining means for the stud whereby a disk record may be centrally held, a swinging arm having inertia, a cork disk fastened thereon and a needle fastened to the cork disk adapted to run on a record and thereby cause the record to vibrate and reproduce sound.

10. A phonograph turntable of resonant material consisting of a base provided at its outer edge with a high rim extending up- -wardly from the base and having a recordseat at the top of the rim, said base and rim forming, respectively, the bottom and side of a large and deep resonating chamber, a

record retaining meansto center and hold a record down on said seat and an inertiastylus to cause a recordto vibrate into said resonating chamber.

11. A phonograph turntable of resonant material consisting of a base provided at its outer edge with a high rim extending upwardly from the base and having a record seat at the top of the rim, said base and rim forming, respectively, the bottom and side of a large and deep resonating chamber, a record retaining means to center and hold a record down on said seat, a swinging arm, a cushion mounted thereon and a stylus attached to the cushion and designed to cause a record to vibrate into said resonating ANTHONY THOMPSON. 

